Sulky



(No'Mode1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

W. s. BULL. SULKY.

-N0.- 495,015. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

44am jwem wmus mans co. wwcpm'nau wAmmm'uk c c Urvrrnn STATES WILLIE S. BULL, OF BUFFALO, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JULIA I. BULL, OF SAME PLACE.

SULKY.

SFECIFIGAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,015, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed December 17, 1892. Serial No. 455,455. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIE S. BULL, a citinen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, 1n the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Sulkies, of which the following is a specification.

v This invention relates more especially to sulkies and has for its chief object to provide 2. firm and reliable wheel-carrying frame which is readily applied to an ordinary sulky without requiring a reconstruction thereof, so that small wheels or wheels with pneumatic or cushion tires may be substituted for the ordinary large wheels, if desired. v

My invention has the additional object to make the wheels vertically adjustable in their carrying frames in a simple manner, so that the seat or'sulky-frame may be raised or lowered to suit the height of the animal attached to the sulky.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sulky containing myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective View of one of the wheelcarrying frames, on an enlarged scale. Fig. e is a vertical cross section of the frame, taken centrally through the same. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of one of the spindle bearings. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary pcrspectiveview of the frame, showinga modifled construction of the spindle bearing.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A, represents the axle of the sulky, having the usual spindles or journals.

B, is the seat supporting frame, and B, are the thills. Each of the detachable frames which carry the wheels, consists of a horizontal sleeve or tubular box D, which embraces the ordinary axle spindle and an upright fork which straddles the wheel. Each arm or up right member of this fork consists of two rods cl (1, converging downwardly from the sleeve D and formed at their lower ends with a lug or car cl. The upper ends of these fork rods are arranged on opposite sides of the sleeve D and secured by horizontal bolts or rivets to lugs 6: formed on the front and rear sides of lower end of each of these braces is secured in a. horizontal sleeve or collar g formed at the junction of the converging fork rods, shown in Fig. 1. The upper ends of these braces are secured to the under side of the thills by bolts or other suitable fastenings.

H are vertically adjustable bearings arranged on the lugs of each fork and in which the wheel spindle is supported. Each of these hearings consists of a horizontal bar or plate resting against the outer side of the fork lug and provided at its ends with inwardly extending lips or flanges h which embrace the vertical edges of the lug, thereby holding the bearing against lateral displacement on the lug. This bearing plate is formed with a central opening it in which the end portion of the spindle is seated, and the fork lug is provided in line with said opening with a vertical slot 71 for the passage of the spindle. The bearing is secured in position in the fork log by a clamping bolt i, applied to the threaded end of the spindle and bearing against the outer side of the horizontal plate of the bearing. The contiguous faces of the fork lug and the bearing plate are preferably provided with ribs or corrugations j, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, to more securely hold the bearing in place. Upon loosening the clamping nuts on the ends of the spindle sufficiently to allow the ribbed faces of the bearings and logs to clear each other, the bearings may be adjusted up or down in the forks for changing the elevation of the sulky frame, the bearings being again clamped in place after the desired adjustment has been effected by tightening said nuts. The elevation of the seat can thus be readily adjusted relatively to the height of the animal hitched to the sulky. In case the adjustable feature of the wheel spindle is not desired the spindle bearings may be formed integrally with the members of the fork arms, as shown in Fig. 6. By constructing each of the wheel forks of two converging members attached to the sleeve on opposite sides of its axis, a very stiff and rigid wheel frameis obtained which effectually resists strains. The sleeve, with the two fork arms and the inclined braces, forms a detachable frame which can be readily applied to an ordinary sulky without requiring a reconstruction or change thereof. The sleeves are provided in their upper sides with flattened surfaces which are serrated, ribbed, or otherwise roughened as shown, so as to form steps, for mounting the sulky.

I claim as my invention 1. A removable Wheel supporting frame for sulkies, consisting of a horizontal sleeve adapted to fit over the axle spindle, and upright fork arms extending downwardly from the end portions of the sleeve and each composed of a pair of rods or members having spindle supports at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends to said sleeve on opposite sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. A removable wheel supporting frame for sulkies, consisting of a sleeve adaptedto embrace the axle spindle and provided at its end portions on opposite sides thereof with lugs or cars, and fork arms eachcomposedof a pair of rods or members having their upper ends attached to said sleeve lugs respect.

lower portions of said fork arms, substantially as set forth.

4. A detach able wheel supporting frame for sulkies. composed of a pair of upright fork arms, and spindle bearings made vertically adjustable on the lower portions of the fork arms, substantially as set forth.

5. A detachable wheel supporting frame for sulkies, composed of a pair of upright fork arms provided in their lower portions with upright slots for the passage of the wheel spindle, and spindle-bearings made vertically adjustable on said slotted portions, substantially as set forth.

6. A detachable Wheel supporting frame for sulkies composed of a pair of upright fork arms provided in their lower portions with upright slots for the passage of the wheel spindle, and spindle-bearings made vertically adjustable on said slotted portions and each consisting of a horizontal bar or plate clamped against the adjacent slotted portions of the fork arms and provided with end lips or flanges whichbear against the upright edges of said slotted portions, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the detachable fork having its arms provided at their lower ends with vertically slotted lugs, of vertically adjustable spindle bearings arranged in said lugs and eachprovided with an opening for the passage of the spindle, a wheel spindle passing through said openings and the slotted fork lugs, and retaining nuts applied to the threaded ends of said spindle, substantially as set forth.

8., A detachable wheel supporting frame consisting of fork arms which straddle the wheel and a sleeve connecting the upper ends of the fork arms and having a flat upper sur face provided with ribs or serrations, substantially as set forth.

Witness myhand this 5th day of December, 1892.

WILLIE S. BULL.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, FRED. O. GEYER. 

